Transcript of "The overall economic condition of bangladesh"

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1The overall economic condition of Bangladesh1. INTRODUCTIONThe current issue of Bangladesh Economic Update focuses on the overall economic condition of Bangladeshparticularly in the half way of FY 2011-12. The issue investigates the sector-wise performance of current fiscalyear in light with the targets set in national budget of FY 2011-12, Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework(MTMF), Medium Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF) and other national plans, policies and goals. The issuealso tries to explore current implementation status and of Annual Development Programme (ADP), and makesprojection thereof.2. MACROECONOMIC SCENARIOGDPIn FY 2010-11, the total amount of GDP in terms of taka was 7874.95 billion (in current market price) in whichTk. 1403.81 billion came from agricultural sector, Tk. 2174.88 billion from industrial sector and Tk. 4037.92billion from service sector. The target of GDP in FY 2011-12 is Tk. 8996.70 billion in which the contribution ofagricultural sector is projected to be Tk. 1506.87 billion, while industrial and service sector might contribute Tk.2351.10 billion and Tk. 436064 million respectively.GDP GrowthThe government has targeted to achieve the GDP growth rate of seven percent in FY 2011-12 based onassumptions of further improvements in the global and domestic economy and taking into account the expectedimpacts of reforms initiated in various sectors. In FY 2011-12, according to business usual scenario, the growthrate of GDP might be at 6.82 percent but the MTMF projection is seven percent. The gap between business asusual scenario and MTMF projection might be 18 percentage point. In FY 2010-11, the growth rate of GDP was6.66 percent that was 59 percentage points more than that of the previous fiscal year. However, in FY 2011-12,the growth rate of GDP might be 6.82 percent that is only 16 percentage points more than that of the previousfiscal year.

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2Savings and InvestmentThe target of the government is to stimulate GDP growth rate at 8 percent by 2013 where the share ofinvestment to GDP is required at 35-40 percent. GDP growth rate was 6.66 percent in FY 2010-11 with 28.40percent of savings and 24.73 percent of investment. In FY 2011-12, the targeted GDP growth rate is sevenpercent, whereas savings as percentage of GDP and investment as percentage of GDP is targeted at 28.90 and24.86 percent respectiveInflation RateFor achieving the targeted GDP growth rate, containing the rate of inflation at a tolerable limit is a prerequisite.In FY 2011-12, the government has targeted the rate of inflation at 7.5 percent while it was 8.8 percent in FY2010-11 and 7.31 percent in FY 2009-10. In November 2011, general inflation rate is 10.51 percent while it was8.14 percent in November 2010.In FY 2001-02, the rate of general inflation (12-month average) was 2.79 percent and point-to-point was 3.58percent while consumer price index (CPI) was at 130.26. The rate of inflation continued to increase further inthe next fiscal years. In FY 2007-08, the rate ofTrade Balancegeneral inflation (12-month average) was higher at 9.94 percent and the rate of point-to-point inflation was10.04 percent. But in FY 2008-09, the rate of point to point inflation followed a huge decline and dropped downto 2.25 percent as well as general inflation declined to 6.66 percent.elyImport and ExportAn increasing trend has been observed in import payments and export earnings over the years. In FY 2011-12,import payments and export earnings are estimated by the government at USD 35400 million and 25700 millionrespectively. However, in 2010-11, import payments was USD 33660 million and export earnings was USD22930 million.Budget DeficitIn FY 2011-12, total revenue and foreign grants is estimated at Tk. 1233.23 billion that is 24 percent higher thanthat of the previous fiscal year in which total revenue is Tk. 1183.85 billion and foreign grants is Tk. 89.38billion.The government has estimated total revenue collection at Tk. 1183.85 billion in FY 2011-12 against Tk. 951.87billion of the revised budget of FY 2010-11. The tax collection from NBR sources is estimated at Tk. 918.7billion in FY 2011-12 that is about 21.52 percent higher than that of the collection of the previous fiscal year.

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3The revenue expenditure in FY 2011-12 is estimated at Tk. 1635.89 billion. The total expenditure fordevelopment sectors is estimated at Tk. 506.42 billion and Tk. 1129.56 billion for non-development sectors inFY 2011-12.Public DebtIn FY 2011-12, the overall public debt/borrowing has been estimated at Tk. 402.66 billion which is 31.59percent higher than that of the revised budget of FY 2010-11 and 47.50 percent higher than that of the revisedbudget of FY 2009-10. The share of domestic borrowing and foreign borrowing has been estimated at Tk.272.08 billion and Tk. 130.58 billion respectively in current fiscal year, which are 67.57 and 32.43 percent ofthe total borrowing. Moreover, in FY 2011-12, net foreign and domestic borrowing have been projected atTk.130.58 billion and Tk. 272.08 billion respectively, which are 125.79 and 9.63 percent higher than those ofFY 2010-11.Deficit financing and Debt ManagementThere are two sources of deficit financing: internal and external debt. The government has become moredependent on banking sectors other than non-banking ones for domestic financing over the time. Over the pastfew years, the overall budget deficit registered an increasing trend that put a serious pressure on the total debt ofthe country.Government Domestic Borrowing (net)Continuation of current trend might result into an increasing movement in domestic debt. Total estimation ofgovernment borrowing from domestic sources in FY 2011-12 is Tk. 272.08 billion which is 23.26 percenthigher than that of FY 2010-11 and 275.47 percent higher than that of FY 2001-02. In FY 2011-12, thegovernment has estimated to borrow 68 percent higher from banking sectors in comparison to that of FY2008-09 indicating a sharp crowding out effect which has dampened private investments. The governmentborrowing from banking sector in FY 2011-12 (up to September, 2011) is Tk. 72.28 billion which is 0.8 percentof GDP. Government borrowing from the banking system outstanding as on 30 September 2011 is Tk. 806.65billion which was Tk. 768.25 billion outstanding as on 31 August 2011. The government borrowing from non-banking sector in FY 2011-12 (July to September, 2011) is Tk.10.00 billion that was Tk. 17.410 billion in FY2010-11. Government domestic borrowing from banking sector in FY 2011-12 (July-September, 2011) is622.57 percent higher than borrowing from non-banking sector.

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4Principal and Interest PaymentTotal payment in April 2011 amounts USD 744 million in which USD 588 million was principal payment andUSD 157 million was interest payment. Both principal and interest payment have risen at a much higher rateduring the 1990s. In FY 2001-02, the principal and interest payments were USD 435 million and USD 151million respectively. Under the business as usual scenario, in FY 2011-12, total payments might stand at USD923.71 million, which is 3 percent higher than that of the previous fiscal year. In the current fiscal year,principle payments might reach at USD 705.15 million and interest payment at USD 191.54 million, which are80 and 20 percent of total payment.Net Foreign Aid FlowTotal aid disbursements during July-October of FY 2011-12 stood at USD 340.86 million compared to USD443.25 million of the same period of FY 2010-11. In addition, net foreign aid receipts during July-October ofFY 2011-12 also stood lower at USD 80.54 million, against USD 216.47 million during July-October of FY2010-11. In FY 2010-11, total foreign aid amounts USD 1,777.33 million, which was USD 387.12 million lessthan that of the previous fiscal year. Total foreign aid might reach at USD 1800.565 million by the end of thecurrent fiscal year that is only 1 percent higher than that of FY 2010-11.Public Finance BalanceIn the budget of FY 2011-12, the government has targeted to collect total revenue of Tk. 1183.85 billion whichis 13 percent of the total GDP. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has to collect Tk. 918.70 billion in theFY 2011-12 which is 77 percent of the total targeted revenue. However, the collection was 78 percent of totaltargeted revenue in FY 2010-11. In August 2011, the collection of total tax revenue is Tk. 61.06 billion that is 7percent higher than that of the collection of August 2010, among which NBR tax revenue is Tk. 58.82 billionand non-NBR tax revenue is Tk. 2.23 billion. If the current trend prevails, at the end of this fiscal year, total taxrevenue might amount at Tk. 824.53 billion against the government target of Tk. 957.85 billion indicating a gapof Tk. 133.32 billion.TaxRevenue is the essential element to manage the government’s fiscal budget. It is a better way to finance thebudget deficit thanthe borrowings from any other sources. In FY 2011-12, total targeted revenue is Tk. 1183.85billion which is 27.51 percent higher than that of the preceding fiscal year. Moreover, the targets of tax and non-tax revenue are set at Tk. 957.85 billion and Tk. 226.00 billion respectively in FY 2011-12. NBR and non-NBRrevenue are proposed at Tk. 918.7 billion and Tk. 39.15 billion respectively in FY 2011-12, while in FY2010-11, the contribution of NBR and non-NBR were Tk. 790.91 billion and Tk. 32.2936 billion respectively.

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5In FY 2010-11, the collection of total revenue, tax revenue and non-tax revenue was Tk. 984.57 billion, Tk.823.21 billion and Tk. 161.36 billion correspondingly.RemittanceThe receipt of remittances during July-November 2011 is USD 4927.74 million which is USD 346.31 million or7 percent higher than that of the same period of FY 2010-11 while the amount of total receipt of remittance wasUSD 4581.43 million in that year.Number of Persons Left for Abroad on Employment and Total Workers RemittanceAt the beginning of FY 2010-11, the total number of expatriates went abroad amounts to 28347 and remittanceearning was USD 857.31 million while a total of 50307 expatriates went abroad at the same period of FY2011-12 and total earnings from remittance totals USD 1015.58 million. If the first quarter of the threesuccessive fiscal years is compared, total remittance earning amounts to USD 4012.29 million which is 11.98percent higher than that of FY 2010-11 and 11.18 percent higher than that of FY 2009-10. Earnings fromremittance in the first two months of the current fiscal year were in a satisfactory level that was USD 1015.58million and USD 1101.79 million in July and August 2011. Though this flow becomes lower in September, itpicks up again in October. In October 2011, remittance earning was USD 1039.48 million, which wascorrespondently 12.51 percent and 15.41 percent higher than those of FY 2010-11 and FY 2009-10. In the firstquarter of FY 2011-12 total 207563 expatriates went abroad which is 70.91 percent higher than that of FY2010-11 and 37.84 percent higher than FY 2009-10. Under the business as usual scenario, by the end of thisfiscal year, earnings from remittance might reach at USD 1094.63 million.Foreign Exchange ReserveThe foreign exchange reserves are essential for paying the import bills and to repay the foreign debts. The grossforeign exchange reserves are declining over the years. It has declined to USD 9285.20 million in November2011-12 from USD 10338.3 million in October 2011-12, the lowest ever in the last 12 months. This is loweredby USD 1461.42 million or 13.66 percent than that of November 2010-11. This foreign exchange reserves hasdeclined mainly due to the payments of the petroleum and imports of different capital machineries and increasein budget deficit and debt. According to the Bangladesh Bank, foreign exchange reserves were highest inDecember 2010 at USD 11174.4 million.

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6ADP ImplementationThe Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY 2011-12 has been projected at Tk. 460 billion as 5.1percent of the GDP. This is 19.00 percent higher than the proposed ADP and 28.00 percent higher than therevised ADP of FY 2010-11.3.REAL SECTOR SCENARIODifferent governments have taken six five year plans after the independence mainly emphasizing on theacceleration of economic growth, poverty alleviation and employment generation. The growth performanceduring previous five year plans was not up to the mark considering the achievement of targeted growth rate.In the Fifth Five Year Plan (1997-2002), the average annual growth rate was 5.21percent against the targetedgrowth rate of 7 percent. Under the business as usual scenario, the average annual growth rate of 5.45 percentmight be achieved by the end of Sixth Five Year Plan against the targeted growth rate of 7.3 percent. Therefore,the year gap between targeted and achieved growth rate might increase further in the upcoming years while themain objectives of the plans may remain far behind.AgricultureThe sector of agriculture is one of the driving forces of the economy and the life-blood of rural economy. Alarge population is depended on the sector of agriculture not only because of food but also because of livelihoodoptions. Therefore, any change in agriculture sector affects the livelihood of mass people both directly andindirectly. Nevertheless, total employment of agriculture has decreased from 48.10 percent in 2005 to 43.53percent in 2009 although it remained the highest source of employment (MES, 2009). The target of currentgovernment is to increase food production and ensure food security with keeping the price of agriculture inputslike fertiliser, seed, fuel etc. at a reasonable level. However, recent increased price of fertiliser, fuel andelectricity may build a barrier in fostering the pace of agricultural advancement.IndustryBangladesh is in the process of transmission from a predominantly agrarian economy. The present governmentis promised to increase the contribution of industrial sector in GDP from 30.33 percent in FY 2010-11 to 40percent by the calendar year 2021. In addition, the proportion of labour force employedis projected to acceleratefrom 17.85 percent in FY-2009-10to 25 percent by the calendar year 2021.

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7Growth Rate of Manufacturing SectorThe manufacturing sector consists of two sub-sectors: Small and Cottage Industry and Medium and LargeIndustry. Therefore, the total growth depends on both the two sub-sectors. During FY 2009-10, the growth rateof total manufacturing sector was 6.5 percent whereas the growth rate of small and cottage industry was 7.77and medium and large industry was 5.98 percent. In FY 2010-11, the growth rate of total manufacturing sectorincreased to 9.51 percent. On one hand, the growth rate of small and cottage industry decreased to 7.34 percentand on the other hand, medium and large industry increased to 10.41 percent. According to the business as usualscenario, in FY 2011-12, total growth rate of manufacturing sector might be 9.76 percent, while the growth rateof small and cottage industry and medium and large industry might be7.36, and 10.76 percent respectively.PowerPower is a pre-condition for economic and social development for any country. In achieving the targets ofVision 2021, the government has set up medium-term target of enhancing electricity supply to 7000 MW (MegaWatt) by 2013 (2015) and long-term target of generating power supply to 20000 MW in 2021.The presentdemand of electricity is 6000 MW against the production of 4000-4600 MW while per capita electricityconsumption is 236 KWH (Kilo Watt Hour) and only 49 percent people are under electricity coverage in FY2010-11.ServiceThe services sector constitutes a significant share of gross domestic product (GDP) and increasingly becomingthe core of the economy of Bangladesh. Expansion of services offers room for increased foreign exchangeearnings through exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) resulting from improved capacity and efficiencyof the sector. Depending upon the pattern of growth, it further contributes towards national development byenhancing efficiency and employment, which are key sources of national output resulting into the reduction ofpoverty and illiteracy.4. SOCIAL SECTORHealth SectorFY 2011-12 has witnessed a downward allocation in entire social sector in the national budget. The proposedbudgetary allocation in FY 2011-12 in health sector is Tk. 88890 million (including development and non-development), which got reduced by Tk. 200 million and revised at Tk. 88690 million. Moreover, the proposedpublic investment in health, population and family welfare sector has marked negative revision during most ofthe years between FY 2001-02 and FY 2011-12.

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8Education SectorThe government has given due importance on education sector for attaining the targets set in MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs), National plan on Action (NPA) - II, National Education Policy (NEP) 2010 andNational Budget for FY 2011-12. The finance minister has proposed a budgetary allocation of Tk. 203160million in FY 2011-12, development and non-development combined, that is 12.4 percent of the national budgetand 9.37 percent and higher than the revised budget of FY 2010-11.GenderBangladesh is a developing country with a per-capita GDP of USD 755 (Bangladesh Economic Review, 2011).In the 2010 Human Development Index (HDI), Bangladesh has ranked 129 among 164 countries, and accordingto the Gender Inequality Index (GII) it has ranked 116 among 138 countries (UNDP, 2010). Hence, Bangladeshhas to go a long way than many least developed countries for eliminating gender disparity5. POVERTY AND INEQUALITYDespite considerable thrust on poverty alleviation in all plan documents since the independence of Bangladesh,a significant portion of population is still living below the poverty line. It is a constitutional obligation of thegovernment to provide a decent living standard for the citizens by alleviating poverty. In its election manifesto,the present government has therefore laid special emphasis on poverty alleviation and pledged to reducepoverty. They made a commitment to reduce the rate of poverty to 25 percent and 15 percent by calendar year2013 and 2021 respectively.

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9Table 3: Targets and Status Head Count Poverty %for MDG, Vision-2021 andSFYP Targets/ Projection/GapMDGs Targets by 2015 Targets 29Projection 25Gap ...Vision-2021 Targets Targets 15Projection 17Gap 2Sixth Five Year Targets 22Plan (SFYP)2011-15Projection 25Gap 36. EMPLOYMENTIn case of employment generation, the government has planned to create employment opportunities for about656 lac and 26 thousand man-month in the FY 2011-12 which is 5.58 percent higher than that of the previousfiscal year. But the employment opportunities are largely depended on investment. Over the years the growthrate of investment has decreased from 14.9 percent in FY 2010-11 to 6.76 percent in FY 2011-12. Therefore, itis evident that the trend of employment opportunities has been following a decreasing trend during the last fewyears which has resulted from the decreasing investment scenario.ConclusionIn the long run after taking into account the economic situation of Bangladesh the government has targetedto achieve the GDP growth rate of 7 percent in FY 2011-12 based on assumptions of further improvementsin the global and domestic economy and taking into account the expected impacts of reforms initiated invarious sectors.